Page 59 of Midnight Star

I need to be the one making the moves—not the one being moved.

And so, I straighten my spine as I return to the courtyard, my resolve hardening like iron. The fae may think humans are nothing more than pawns, but pawns have potential.

Because pawns can cross the board and become queens.

Sapphire

The shockof cold water hits me like a thousand needles, and for a moment, I’m completely disoriented. But Riven’s hand finds mine in the darkness, anchoring me as we steady ourselves and break through the surface.

The water here is different from the mystical pond we left behind. It’s murkier. More real.

But it’s still just as cold.

Which makes sense, given that it’s January in New York City.

Without a word, we swim to the edge and haul ourselves onto the grassy bank. My clothes are soaked through, clinging to my skin. Riven’s just as drenched, his hair plastered to his forehead, droplets trailing down his face.

“Are you okay?” I ask, reaching out to brush a wet strand of hair from his eyes.

He catches my wrist, his touch sending a shiver through me that has nothing to do with being wet. “I’d say that went rather well. Dramatic and memorable—just as intended,” he says, his thumb tracing light circles on my palm. “But I’ll be even better after you use your magic to dry us off.”

“Demanding much, are we?” I smile, letting out a small, breathless laugh.

“I just endured a portal drop into enemy territory,” he says, pulling me closer. “Surely that earns me a favor?”

“On top of the one I already owe you?” I tease.

“You’ll enjoy repaying me,” he promises, and after a kiss that’s decently long considering we’re in said enemy territory and need to be aware of our surroundings, I place my palm on his chest and close my eyes, reaching for the intertwined threads of my water and air magic.

They respond instantly, and before long, we’re dry.

Even so, I keep my palm on his chest, not wanting to let go.

His eyes lock onto mine, the intense look in them sending a wave of heat through me. “Impressive,” he says. “You get better at this every day.”

“Magic lessons with a powerful, well-trained, irresistible fae prince will do that,” I say, our lips so close now that I can feel his frosty breath mingling with mine.

But instead of another kiss, his expression shifts, and he leans back, breaking the connection.

“Sapphire,” he says my name in the way he always does when he’s about to say something serious. “What happened on the Midnight Star?”

I pause to gather my thoughts—since alothappened on the star—then launch into everything Celeste told me, condensing the flood of information into what’s hopefully something coherent.

“Celeste lives in this incredible city on the Midnight Star with buildings that looked like they were carved from crystal and light,” I say, the memory of it taking my breath away all over again. “She’s the one I saw in the woods before drinking from the stream and falling into the fae realm. That night, she gave me a piece of her magic and made me one of the star touched.”

“Star touched?” Riven’s brow furrows.

“There’s so much more to explain, but we don’t have time right now.” I reach for my bracelet and call on its magic, since showing him will be easier than telling him. “She answered my questions about the potion. Look.”

The gems glow, and a shimmering projection appears on the ground—a vivid image of the ingredients we need, along with the instructions for how to brew the potion.

“That tree,” Riven says, looking over my shoulder. “It’s behind you.”

As I turn around, a wave of magic sweeps throughthe air, thick and heady, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.

And then, it happens.

The carefully maintained paths of Central Park dissolve, replaced by something ancient, colorful, and magical. Trees with massive trunks and shimmering leaves stretch toward the night sky, and flowers bloom everywhere—huge and exotic, their scents heavy and intoxicating. Then there are the fireflies—or something far more magical—gliding through the air, leaving behind trails of silver and gold, like stars pulled too close to the earth.

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